Master of Arts in English Literatures

The MA Program in English Literatures prides itself on its intellectual rigor, diversity of subjects and approaches, and commitment to excellence in teaching. Course offerings balance traditional literary history with new work in such fields as postcolonial studies, food studies, digital literacies, environmental humanities, cultural studies, literature and psychology, narrative, lyric, and performance theories, and feminist studies. Students in the program have the flexibility to design and personalize their master’s program to meet their diverse interests and provide opportunities for professionalization in the field.

The MA Program serves the needs of those whose goal is teaching in junior or community colleges or private high schools, pursuing a Ph.D., or advancing skills and knowledge in reading and writing about literature. Our graduates work as teachers in high schools and community colleges; enter the field of publishing; write for journals, magazines, and online publications; earn PhDs; enter law school; start their own businesses; and work for non-profits, foundations, and government agencies.

Program Learning Outcomes
1. Students will be able to produce well-supported and clearly articulated literary arguments that demonstrate their expertise in a historical field.

2. Students will be able to produce well-supported and clearly articulated literary arguments that draw on appropriate theoretical paradigms.

3. Students will be able to present their work orally in various academic contexts.

4. Students will be able to select, analyze, interpret, and evaluate a range of printed and electronic primary and secondary literary and literary-cultural source materials and integrate them into their own writing, using proper citation methods.

5. Students will be able to engage in meaningful dialogue with critical debates in the field.

Completed an undergraduate degree in English comparable to the undergraduate program at SF State, and has achieved a grade point average of at least 3.0 in the major.

Minimum TOEFL iBT 80, IELTS 7.0 or PTE 65; some majors require higher scores.